Salon: Excerpt from Tucker Carlson's Book

[kskiska]

I had just left the CNN set when I was handed a letter from a lawyer saying his client would soon be charging me with rape. My life, and assumptions about sex scandals, would change forever.

By Tucker Carlson

Sept. 13, 2003 | It was June 2001, and I had just gotten off the "Crossfire" set when one of our producers handed me a stack of mail. On the way to the elevator, I glanced at it. On top of the pile was a registered letter from a law firm. It got my attention immediately. I've never had a pleasant letter from a lawyer.

This one was worse than most. It was written by an attorney in Indiana named Paul M. Blanton who wanted to let me know that his client, a woman named *Elizabeth Jansen, was planning to file criminal sex charges against me in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. "Ms. has informed me that she was raped by you," Blanton wrote. "If you should have any questions or concerns about any of the aforementioned, please do not hesitate to contact me."

(snip)

I went next door to see Bill Press, who was going through his own mail. I showed him the letter. He had two words of advice: "Bob Bennett." Bennett, who represented President Clinton during the early Lewinsky period, is the first lawyer most people in Washington think of when they hear the phrase "explosive allegations." For the scandal-besieged, Bob Bennett is almost a cliché. And for good reason. If you suspect you could be in deep trouble, there's no one better.

more…
http://salon.com/books/feature/2003/09/13/carlson_excerpt/index.html

[w13rd0]

1. Bow tie Tucker?

Is this bow tie tucker? I'm confused...

[minkyboodle]

2. thing about carlson

I disagree with him all the time and he can be quite annoying with his delivery sometimes. However, reading this and the salon interview about his book here http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2003/09/13/carlson/index.html

I must say that there are far worst right wing personalities out there. He gets at Oreilly a little in the interview and is pretty much on target. I guess the difference with Carlson is he is consistent from the right perspective (anti-abortion AND anti-death penalty). That is much easier to deal with than Hannity and his ilk. He actually comes off pretty funny in the interview I mean there aren't many things I think he is right on but damned if Carslon and Carville don't make for a damn entertaining show sometimes.
Scott

[kskiska]

3. The difference is a sense of humor

He and Bill Press are great friends and were pretty funny on "The Spin Room." I get the feeling that Tucker doesn't believe half of what he says in the course of Crossfire, but he's expected to defend the Repug positions.

[w13rd0]

5. Actually...

...if you recall, someone called him out on the show about the fact that he doesn't believe half the things he says, something to the effect, "Come on man, you know I do this shtick for the check." David Brock I think...

[Lisa]

9. well, he was honest enough to make public what Bush said to him ...

Bush thought Carlson was one of the "friendly" right-wing journalists who wouldn't tell on him if he dropped the affable/pious mask he uses when he's out in public. So Bush mocked Karla Faye Tucker, and was shocked when Carlson didn't laugh (I guess he'd been expecting that Carlson was either as cruel as he was, or would be too scared to show his disapproval).

Reportedly he was quite upset when Carlson reported on the incident.

[eileen from OH]

4. Tucker Carlson is

my guilty right-wing pleasure. While I disagree with him right down the line, he seems to at least have a sense of humor and doesn't seem to take himself as bloody seriously as some of the right-wing dickwads. And his reaction to Hillary with the cake-shoe was priceless and he even admitted she was a total class act for doing it.

eileen from OH

[TheYellowDog]

6. Tucker Carlson is a liberal

He's a moderate Republican who really doesn't believe half the stuff he says, and is a really congenial guy. I prefer him over Hannity, Scarborough, O'Reilly or NOVAK any day of the week. Besides, I don't watch Crossfire for Carlson, I watch it for Begala and Carville! :)

[TheYellowDog]

7. By the way,

does anyone know how old Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson are? I'm just curious, and I can't find the answers anywhere. :(

[kskiska]

8. What's really striking, after thinking about this story,

is WHO Tucker chose to confide in when faced with this radioactive threat to his job. He didn't go to his own people. He asked Bill Press for advice. He trusted Press to keep it quiet until it was resolved. Anyone else, like Novak, would have gone straight to CNN and gotten him fired.

By the way, I have this article and the Salon interview with Carlson in PDF format. Send me your e-mail address and I'll send either.